Monday, September 14, 2015
Today, I want to share with you a few excerpts from the message I preached in church yesterday which I titled “Seeking Motivation And Inspiration.” Everyone needs these two invisible forces in order to do things, especially as it relates to serving God. I’m sure you’ve noticed that some weeks I only write two or three of these blog messages. Sometimes I can’t because I’m not home and close to my computer, but there are times that I don’t because I lack either the motivation or the inspiration. Different things inspire and motivate different people, yet the Lord will always use someone or something in order to accomplish it, and what may move or inspire you, may not do a thing for me, and vice versa. In my case, the only inspiration and motivation that I have ever needed in my forty plus years in service to Him, came on the very day Christ came into my life.
Remember the line from the movie, “Jerry Maguire” where Rene Z. said "you had me at hello"? Well, the same thing happened to me when Christ came into my life. I was all His on that day. I think David meant the same thing when he wrote: “My heart is fixed, oh god, my heart is fixed.” (Psalm 57:7) I didn’t know it then but since I fell completely in love with Him on that day for what He did for me, my love, gratitude, and devotion for Him has helped me overcome every obstacle and storm I've encountered, unlike many Christian servants who have dropped out of the race when the compliments and pats on the back stopped coming. Compliments, words of encouragement and praise, loud “amens”, applause and cheers are great things to get, but those who have truly surrendered themselves to Jesus, will continue on even when they get none of these things. They are like the man who was walking down the street one day with a bamboo pole on his shoulders. His neighbor asked where he was going and he replied he was going to a nearby pond to do some fishing. The neighbor asked “Got any worms?” He replied “Yes, but I’m going fishing anyway!” Christ’s devoted servants can likewise say, “I don’t see too many results, I don’t get too many compliments, sometimes I feel that no one is listening or no one cares……. but I’ll keep serving the Lord anyway.”
I ended my message in church with this illustration: “It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, “What will you give me if I release you?” “The half of my wealth,” was his reply. “And if I release your children?” “Everything I possess”, he answered “And if I release your wife?” “Your Majesty, for that I give you my life.” Cyrus was so moved by his devotion for his wife and children that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, “Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man?” With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, “I didn’t notice. I could only keep my eyes on you—the one who was willing to give himself for me.” Jesus was not only willing, he actually gave Himself for us. Shouldn’t that be all the motivation and inspiration we need in order to serve Him and never give up, no matter what life may throw at us? I hope so.
Memory verse for the week: (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
